March 22nd, 2025, 8:00PM
Immortal Lee County Killers with Nikki & The Phantom Callers
@ Wild Heaven Garden Club
Immortal Lee County Killers
The Immortal Lee County Killers formed in 1999 and dissolved in 2005, just as it was gaining popularity. The group’s first performances were house shows and backyard parties in Lee County, Auburn, Alabama, but would go on to tour the USA, UK, Europe, Australia, and Japan. ILCK recorded three full length records, two EPs, two Peel Sessions, and thirteen singles to critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, NME, Mojo, Spin, and others. The band changed lineups regularly, but were predominantly a guitar and drums two piece. Organ was added for their final record. Band members were J.R. Collins, Jeff Goodwin, John Wesley Myers, Doug Sherrard, and Chet Weise (founder and only constant member). Weise and original drummer, Sherrard, currently live in Nashville, Tennessee. The two have played a handful of festivals, most recently after the publication of the Estrus Records Book: Shovelin’ the Sh!t Since ‘87.
“Legendary existential punk-blues, The Immortal Lee County Killers were a band made of dark fire and soul.” — Drowned in Sound
Don't miss this rare reunion show!
Nikki & The Phantom Callers
Growing up in rural Dadeville, Alabama, Nikki Speake has a specific Southern grit embedded in her soul. More Flannery O’Connor than Margaret Mitchell, there’s a morbid spirit to much of Speake’s writing, and nowhere is that more apparent than Nikki & the Phantom Callers’ debut LP, Everybody’s Going To Hell (But You and Me). The eleven-track collection of boot-stomping alt-country and jangly indie-rock weaves a series of stories exploring a beautiful darkness in stark contrast to their predominantly sunny tonality; a Southern Gothic study of grief soundtracked by country-tinged ‘60s pop. “I am very Southern, I grew up in a traditional Southern Baptist family going to church three times a week,” says Speake. “Those older Southern generations have so much grief surrounding them—even the church services are morbid. I think my vocabulary was formed by that, so it’s just how I think.”
Speake has been living in Atlanta for years now, playing in the garage-rock power trio Midnight Larks and the all-girl psych-rock outfit Shantih Shantih, and performing alongside acts like Shooter Jennings, Lydia Loveless, L.A. Witch, Joshua Hedley, Black Lips, Lee Bains III & the Glory Fires & more prior to forming the Phantom Callers in early 2017. In the short time since their formation, the band—featuring lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Speake, lead guitarist Aaron Mason, drummer Russell Owens, and Speake’s Shantih Shantih bandmate Anna Kramer on bass and backing vocals—has garnered acclaim from national media outlets including Paste, Wide Open Country, PopMatters, Cowboys & Indians Magazine & more, and in 2018 was named Atlanta’s best country band by Creative Loafing.
"Atlanta band Nikki & The Phantom Callers are an eclectic mix of country, gothic rock and honky-tonk."
-WABE City Lights with Louis Rietzes
"Speake’s ability to pour raw emotion into her lyrics creates an authentic narrative woven into her music."
- American Songwriter
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